It is with resignation that I note news media are still making killers famous, just as long as their victims are numerous and/or famous. It doesn't make any difference where you look -- Fox News, over-the-air TV networks, NPR: Coverage of the attacks on Minnesota politicians gives the attacker's name over and over, mentioning the names of his victims only once or twice.
Credible reports put that killer firmly on the political/religious Right, but that doesn't matter, either; an insurance executive was shot down on the street by a guy from the Left or the muddled middle (he hasn't been as easy to figure out) and you're ten times more likely to know his name than the name of the man he killed.
This kind of killer appears to succeed more often when they're mentally askew. Perhaps more motivated; perhaps they're more likely to take an unusual approach. But we know that many of them are attracted by the idea of recognition: their crime will make them famous. It's not a sane evaluation, but as long as we continue to put the names of these killers in banner headlines and treat their lunacies as worthy of recognition, the incentive remains.
Admittedly, I did not watch much TV coverage following the apprehension of the accused man as we were having weather issues to which to attend; but, the small amount of coverage that I saw did not include the name of the accused and I noticed/applauded the omission. During the hunt for the accused, I believe that I did hear/read his name, but I don't recall, for sure.
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